(USA Today) A high-end designer store in Glendale, California was looted by dozens of people in a flash mob burglary on Tuesday, Glendale Police said.
At least 30 suspects “flooded” the Yves Saint Laurent store in The Americana at Brand Tuesday afternoon and stole clothing and other merchandise before fleeing on foot and leaving the location in numerous vehicles, said police in a statement. An investigation into the incident is underway. The total loss is estimated to be approximately $300,000.
The Americana is a major indoor-outdoor hub in Glendale adjacent to Northeast and Downtown Los Angeles.
Video footage from the incident, captured by onlookers, shows dozens of masked individuals running out of the store with merchandise and other goods in their arms.
“‘Flash mob’ burglaries involve a large, coordinated group of individuals simultaneously rushing into the store, overwhelming staff, and taking it over,” explained the police, adding that suspects grab as much merchandise as they can before escaping in multiple vehicles.
“This type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Glendale,” said Glendale Police Chief Manuel Cid in a statement, promising that the department will “pursue all leads and utilize every available resource to apprehend those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Expect an elevated police presence in and around the downtown Glendale corridor, Cid added.
Caruso, the real estate company that owns The Americana at Brand is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for leads on the incident and suspects.
Meanwhile, retailers like Target, Walmart, Dollar General and Home Depot have expressed concern and are sounding the alarm on retail theft in recent months. Missing inventory was discussed more this past quarter than any quarter on record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
